File fastener



H. D. SNYDER FILE FASTENER Jan. 6, 1948.

Filed April 18, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR khwvfl SNYDER ATTORNEY Jan. 6, 1948.

H. p. SNYDER FILE FASTENER Filed April 18, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 6, 1948 FILE FASTENER Harry D. Snyder, New York, N. Y., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Speed Products Company, Inc., Long Island City, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application April 18, 1944, Serial No. 531,556

1 The invention is a file fastener wherein a compressor is removably threaded onto a pair of companion prongs of a base member for holding a stack of sheets of paper or the like in a compact and neat fashion however permitting relatively convenient removal of the several sheets of the stack by unlocking the compressor from the prongs. V

The object of the invention is to provide a functionally and structurally improved compressorin the form of a cover of a length slightly less than the distance between the prongs when normal to the stack and having novel wedge means for stressing the bent down terminals of companion prongs upon rotation of the compressor along the top sheet of the stack for drawing together the compressor and base, thus more securely holding the stack in a compact fashion. The invention has as another object to provide simplified and biased means extending from the compressor for progressively clearing the bent down prongs prior to automatically interlocking the compressor and specifically a boss thereof with the bent down prongs. The invention has as a further object to provide a relatively elongated compressor having a gap surrounded completely by the body of the compressor for automatically positioning a prong in a key way whereby a transverse end of the compressor may be quickly positioned against .the upper sheet of the stack of papers and against a part of the last mentioned prong whereby this prong may be readily bent over the stack upon pivotal or tiltable displacement of the compressor downwardly towards the stack. Th invention has as another object the provision of a practical compressor in the form of a relatively elongated plate having a slotted portion for receiving a companion bent down prong of the strap and including a rounded wing adapted to be rotated under this companion bent down prong whereupon the sides of the compressor are readily and desirably interposed between the bent down parts of the companion prongs and the latter are automatically interlocked with the boss of the compressor. Another important object of the invention is realized in the provision of reinforcing beads for strengthening the compressor plate and at least in part characterizing wedge means for tensioning the bent over parts of the companion prongs to urge the base plate and compressor tightly towards the stack. The invention has as another salient object to provide in a one piece compressor a rim surrounding the boss thereof, the rim being interrupted by a slot extending from the outer free edge of a biased 3 Claims. (Cl. 24-153) lip and widthwis of the compressor towards and 'to a lower margin of the rim for threadably receiving a companion bent down prong in the matter of efiectively arranging the boss to interlock with the last-mentioned prong. The invention has as further object the provision of means to permit the compressor plate to be conveniently unlocked and removed from the bent down prongs. The invention has as a further object the provision of a compressor adapted to be removably and telescopically associated with one of the bent down prongs whereby the compressor may be readily swiveled awayfrom and towards the companion 'unthreaded prong for quickly threading the latter on the compressor. Other functional and structural features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following'detailed specification considered in the light of the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the file fastener, illustrating the compressor about to be threaded into one of the prongs of a base member or plate.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the compressor threaded on the prong and bearing against the top sheet of the stack of papers or the like.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the left hand prong bent down against the stack upon shifting of the compressor in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the compressor threaded on one of the prongs and swung out of alinement with the companion or right hand prong of the base member and awaiting to be rotated, swiveled or pivoted towards the free but companion bent down prong.

Fig. 5 is a top view however illustrating the compressor pivoting in the direction of the arrow with the clearing wing slightly under the right hand prong and the biased lip slightly overlapping the latter.

Fig. 6 is a top view showing the compressor dis- 3 of Fig. 6 depicting the clearing lip with a decreased bias.

Fig. 11 is a sectional View on the line "-4! of Fig. 6 particularly illustrating the progressive bias or divergence of the tapered clearing lip.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line -4 2;- of" Fig 6-' illustrating thel fading cording to Figs. 1-13 threaded laterally onone of the bent down prongs, and

Fig. 16 is a plan view of the compres sor tele scoped on one of the bent down prongs and adapted to be swiveled thelebhfifi: ardirectionzto1- wards the other prong an removabiy "ill-)QI'IQCK'. therewithz Thegfile fasteneris generally denoted; and incl'u'desa strap comprisin'g a; base-plate or'rmernher I il provided with flexible"; and; foldable; come 1 panioh prongs I and? I 2: integral: with the:base member H); The :stack .oftpapers -S includes: auned: perforations I 3;: for; the: reception of the: companion-prongs H t and r I 2: permittingzthe; stack" to" be: arranged on. the baseplaterlfir Thej' base. plate and prongs characterizei a one? piecevstrapi ofaisuitable sheetrmetal material althoughbther typeslof material may.be;utilized.

The file: fastener:- FF. is also characterized: a; compressor or-compiessorrplajte broadly. denoted, C and'zmay. be ofsheet metal; cardboard;- or. of an. appropriate plastic: material, This. compressor plate is azoneapiecemem-ber havinga lengthless. thanithe" distance between thecompanion prongs H: and; I2 when ,thedatter. are substantially. norr; mal to the-base on base-plate lltan'd has a widthv seyeraltimes that ofythe width f the: prongs. Hence. the-terminals l 4 of the. companion prongs whenbent down. againstvthe i stack may be desirably covered and disengageably locked} by. raised boss or. rib l5. extending. longi nallyjof" the-compressorl plate... Thisjboss, terminates at the gap l Bjand the slot l1.

By thepresent arrangement' the' struck outriblumay be said to be encompa 's'sed 'by a peripheral; rim generally denoted R? comprisingfour marginal portions or flanges}, namelyzja'lower marginal portion 18 merging with the side on end;marginal portions 19 and zfi a-nd the upper marginal portion 'or' lip 21 the -side=-marginal* portions l9 and 2-0 together-withthelower-mar ginal 1 portion l8 being interrupted by thestruck out strengthening bead or rib- B including; the longitudina-hportion 22 running le r'ig tl'l'wiseof the lower marginal portion and including the leg portions 23 and 24 disposed widthwise' alon'g the -side marginal portions 1 9 and: 2.0;

Asa commentary with respect to--the;rim' it: is apparent that slot l1 starts at the-"juncture of -th 'e lower' marginal portion= I8-Land'side marginal portion and extends uninterruptedly; to; the upper edge 26: ofthe upper marginaliportion orlip Z'i, thegap lfi however; isv merely. between thelower and-upper marginal: portions. l8 and 2i and-between thesidemarginakportions la andtheboss: l5: Since, the side marginal' portion 29 is spaced from the upperemarr ginal portion 2| it may be said to characterize a clearing wingW hav-in'ga curved corneriflz;

The rim R about the rectangular boss 15 except for rib or bead B and the outer marginal portion or lip 2| is in one plane, the lip or flange 2| however is progressively biased or bent outwardly from the plane of the compressor plate having its greatest taper or bias at corner 28 Figs4eandi1) and gradually diminishes to be in the plane of the compressor plate (Figs. 9 and 11) The rib portions 23 and 26 have tapered or fading off terminals 29 and the corners 36, 3! and 32. of the compressor are likewise rounded as shown while the base or plate Ii) includes longitudinally arranged reinforcing ribs 34,

Asian-important; commentary it should be observed thatthe elevation of the ribs 23 and 24 are of a-height= substantially equal the height of boss l5= andthese.ribscharacterize wedge means for tensioning' the'bent down prong for drawing the base lflist'owards the compressor in looking the compressor onto the prongs.

In;Figs'. 1; and Zthe prongs l i and i 2 are. substantially-atrightangles to the base it of the strap: and threaded throughthe perforations i3 to arrang e the' bottom of the stack on-=the base Ill-i=5 Thereafteriprong l-l is threaded through gap.

lii':.:p ermitting;the"terminal. !4- to bereceivedortelescoped' inthe keyway or channel, 35- defined. The end face 36' thendrops to.

by the boss l5. be positioned on the uppermost or topsheet'of the, stackandis interlocked although not .neces: sarily-withlboss- I5. Subsequently the comprese. s01, 'is swung, in-the direction indicated, by-thearrQW-inFig. 2.- By this action, the terminal, l kof this,;prong -is bent down but over the-rib. sp,ortion,-,2 3 (Fig. 3). Thereafter thecompre'ssor, is sw-iveled slightly towards the operator or clock wiseto arrange the-wing Zlolear ofthe prong [2- Thereafter. this prong is .bent down; against the stack-(Fig; 4). The lip or free .rnarginalflange 2 i.| is ,now ready to be automatically. slippedover. the bentdown. prong. I2 and particularly the terminal, I4? thereof. This isaccomplished; by

rotating the. compressor. counterclockwise as in? dicatedbythe arrow inFig. 5.. It follows that, wingWl goes under. the bent; downy-terminal. M. ofthegprong l2.whilethebiased-flange 2i ridesv over. thisterrninal. l4..which..now enters slot I]. (Fig. 5). Further, counterclockwise rotation of compressorlcauses the'lip 211 to shiftjover and. beyond-terminal 'Hifof prong l2 and ultimately. bossll 5Qstraddles,.and interlocks with terminals M offtheycompanionprongs H. and I2 (Fig. 6)).

The taperedportion 2,9 of,the bead or rib 2,4

allowsthe, latter. to bereadily received under the.

bent down prong. l2. while the body of the 'ribs 23,.and, 2.4 uponthe rotation of. thecompressor. to.its interlocked relation. withthe bent. down terminals I4! of the prongs II and. 12 act; as

wedgegorcammeans to desirably tension the bent down prongsLprovidingtherein the concavo convexrportionsand 364mg. '7). By this action the-base urged tightly against the bottom of the-stack while theendor side-marginal portions 19-; and-2&1 are-urged tightly. towards thetopof the stack;,- the terminals l i binding frictionallyagainst the-inside; horizontal face of thekeyway or=,- channel 35:. It follows that the compressor is tig-htly,andysecurelyr held against the stack and of course, interlockedrwith the bent" down prongs.

Rotation; offthe; compressor may be facilitated if; desired by a raised fingerpiece portion 31 struckrout-of the ribportion 22; and to unlock the compressor-the-operator graspsthebiased lippzlj and, lifts the-latterslightly. This causes thercboss =15 -telear he; nt dow erminals I 4 and hence the compressor is swiveled by the coaction of end f ce 36 against the-prong Il which'serves asfulcrum means.

With the boss disengaged from the terminals l4 and compressor pivoted or swiveledclockwise, slot ll withdraws from the bent down terminal l4-ofprong l2 and thereafter the compressor is withdrawn from prong ll.

As an alternative mode of initially telescoping the compressor with one of the prongs, terminals I4 of the companion prongs may be bent down against the stack (Fig. 14). Subsequently the compressor is threaded on terminal H and slidably shifted laterally towards this prong (Fig. 15)

thus ,removably telescoping therewith. Thereafter the compressor is swiveled or rotated. clockwise relative to prong ll taking the position shownin Fig. 16 after which the compressor is rotated n the bent down prong l l and swiveled or pivoted counterclockwise as indicated by the arrow (Fig. 16). By this action wing W goes under the prong l2 and the biased'lip 2| rides over this prong andultimately boss l disengageably interlocks with the prongs which are tensioned by the beads 23 and 24 as in the case of Figs. 5 and 6, otherwise in structure and operation the compressor of Figs. 15 and 16 is identical to the compressor illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6.

In Fig. 5 terminal I4 is shown interlocked with the hollow boss Hi. In such case the compressor if manually actuated shifts terminal IQ of prong l I bodily therewith as illustrated and out of alinement with terminal Id of prong [2. However it is not necessary to disturb the alinement of terminal I4 since the compressor may be raised to lift the boss l5 from terminal l4 of prong II and thereafter the compressor may be rotated on the terminal M of prong H as in the manner shown in Fig. 16. At any rate when the compressor is interlocked with both of the bent down prongs, the wedge means 23 and 24 has deformed the terminals l4 adjacent the juncture of their bends with their respective bodies of the prongs.

While the invention has been described in detail and reference has been made to a specific application thereof, it is to be understood that the invention herein disclosed is not limited to such specific application and it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense without departing from the invention or sacrificing the advantages thereof.

I claim:

1. A compressor for a file fastener wherein the bottom of a stack is seated on the base of a strap and a pair of spaced flexible and foldable prongs of the strap are adapted to be projected through spaced openings in the stack, said compressor embodying a relatively elongated plate of a length less than the distance between said 6 ing a slot extending from'said edge to "said lower marginal portion; said plate having a gap-encom passed-by said side-marginal and lower portions, said boss and lip, said gap adapted to receive one of sai'd prongs for removable reception of the latter by said bossfor folding said'last mentioned prong downwardly towards said stack upon downward. swingabl'e displacement of said platetowards saidistack, said slot adapted to receive the other prong of said pair subsequent for bending ofsaid last mentioned prong towards said stack whereupon said plate may be bodily shifted whereby said wing portion shifts underand said lip shifts over saidlast mentioned prong .to straddle the latter to dispose said boss in removable interlocking engagement with said prongs, said wedge means characterizing cam meansfor tensioningsaid prongs for urging said base andfplate towards saidstack, and said lipi adapted to .be

lifted away from said stack to unlock said boss from said prongs.

2. A compressor for a file fastener wherein the bottom of a stack is seated on the base of a strap and a pair of spaced flexible and foldable prongs of the strap are adapted to be projected through spaced openings in the stack, said compressor embodying a relatively elongated plate of a length less than the distance between said prongs when the latter is disposed substantially normal to said stack and of a width greater than the width of said prongs, said plate having a longitudinally arranged hollow boss, a rim peripherally encompassing said boss and comprising a side marginal portion, a wing portion and upper and lower marginal portions, said upper portion characterizing a relatively elongated lip disposed longituprongs when the latter is disposed substantially dinally of said plate and substantially coextensive with the length of said boss and integral with said side marginal portion and progressively sloping upwardly and away from said side marginal portion and having an outer free edge, wedge means projecting from said side marginal portion and from said wing portion, said plate having a slot extending from said edge to said lower marginal portion, said plate having a gap encompassed by said side marginal and lower portions, said boss and lip; said gap adapted to receive one of said prongs for removable reception of the latter by said boss for folding said last mentioned prong downwardly towards said stack upon downward swingable displacement of said plate towards said stack, said slot adapted to receive the other prong of said pair subsequent for bending of said last mentioned prong towards said stack whereupon said plate may be bodily shifted whereby said wing portion shifts under and said lip shifts over said last mentioned prong to straddle the latter to dispose said boss in removable interlocking engagement with said prongs, said wedge means characterizing cam means for tensioning said prongs for urging saidbase and plate towards said stack, and said lip adapted to be lifted away from said stack to unlock said boss from said prongs.

3. A one piece compressor, for a file fastener with a pair of spaced and flexible prongs extending from a base on which a, stack is mounted and wherein said prongs are adapted to be bent against said stack, comprising; a relatively elongated plate having a hollow boss for removably interlocking with said prongs, a peripheral rim encompassing said boss and including a side marginal portion, a lower marginal portion, a wing and an upper tapered lip integral with said side marginal portion and substantially coextensive and? said: wing shifts unden'said last mentioned prong prionte interlockingxofsaidrbossz'with-said 81 prongs, saidwedge means deforming said prongs to urgesaid: boss-and compressor towards each other and tightly against said: stack, and -reinforcingmeans disposed longitudinally of said lower marginal portion and including an ofiset finger manipulating portion.

HARRY D: SNYDER.

REFERENeEs ,CITED Thelf'ollowing references are of record 'in-the file of this patent:

UNITED. STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re'.'18,770 Brennan Mar. 21, 1933 1,094,951 Washburne Apr. 28, 1914' 2,014,878 Brennan Sept. 1'7, 1935 2,136,021 Roscoe Nov. 8, 1938 2,336,681 Gooley- Dec, 14,1943 

